Drugs and Crime: Evaluating Public Policy Initiatives

Addressing critical areas of drug control and system improvement, this book provides a comprehensive examination of policy relevant research. Leading experts explore major problems related to drug trafficking and use, focusing on important policy initiatives. Each chapter discusses a specific problem area, the policies designed to address it, research on the effectiveness of those policies, and the policy implications of the research.

"Choose Drugs and Crime when you want a critical overview of public policy issues on law enforcement and regulation: It focuses on major policy initiatives and the implications of research conducted on their effectiveness. The evaluations of policy results are practical and focus on verifiable results." --The Midwest Book Review Addressing critical areas of drug control and system improvement, Drugs and Crime provides a clear and comprehensive examination of policy relevant research. Editors, MacKenzie and Uchida enlist outstanding experts in the field to produce a volume that explores the major problems related to drug trafficking and use. Each chapter focuses on a major policy initiative and discusses the problem area, policies designed to address the problem, research on the effectiveness of the policies, and policy implications of the research. Just how effective is the criminal justice system in its response to drug use by children and adolescents, prison overcrowding, backlog in the courts, increased criminal activity, youths in the drug distribution system, and serious illnesses such as AIDS? Policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and students will find the "what we know" and "what we need to know" presentations in Drugs and Crime a most unique and appealing addition to the literature and a valuable resource in the continuing effort to understand the complex relationship between drug use and crime.